Organized flow structures is turbulent thermal convection

ORAL

Abstract

The technique of particle image velocimetry is used to study the velocity field in turbulent Rayleigh-B\'{e}nard convection in an aspect-ratio-1 cylindrical cell filled with water. By measuring the 2D velocity vector map in different cross-sections of the cell, we investigate the 3D flow structures and dynamics of the synchronized plume motions. The experiment reveals how thermal plumes synchronize their emissions and organize their motions spatially between the top and bottom plates, which generate highly coherent velocity oscillations in the entire convection box.

*Work supported by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong SAR under Project No. CUHK403003 (C.S and K.-Q.X) and HKUST603003 (P.T).

Authors

  • Chao Sun

  • Ke-Qing Xia

    • The Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Penger Tong

    • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology